The Death Of Saint Alexius
''The Death of Saint Alexius'' or ''Saint Alexius Dying'' is an oil on canvas painting by Pietro da Cortona, created ''c.'' 1638. It is held in the Saint Alexis chapel in the Girolamini, Naples. It shows the dying saint Alexius of Rome holding a letter welcomed by angels — he had left his family and returned to them at the moment of his death, with them only recognising him thanks to the letter. History It was commissioned by Anna Colonna, wife of Taddeo Barberini, nephew of pope Urban VIII, and later given to the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri, Oratorians of Naples with other relics and precious objects. The Barberini family had a particular devotion to Alexius, so much so that the opening show at their Palazzo's theatre was a sacred drama on that saint's life written by pope Clement IX, Giulio Rospigliosi with sets designed by da Cortona. Anna Colonna was deeply linked with the Oratorians' founder Philip Neri, owning a small bone of his in a reliquary by Alessandro Algardi, whic ...
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